Local Government Week - October 18-22
Media Release - October 18, 2021
October 18-22 is Local Government Week. The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, along with the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), are working to raise civic awareness by observing Local Government Week.
School board trustees are the oldest form of elected representation in Ontario. Since 1807, generations of community-minded citizens have made decisions on behalf of local, publicly funded schools, building the foundation of our system today. The board of trustees sets the vision, develops policies, allocates resources, and sets the goals that lay the foundation driving programs and operations in the board. Collectively, they create the multi-year strategic plan for student achievement and well-being and recruit and monitor the performance of the Director of Education to ensure their progress in meeting the goals of the board.
Sherri-Lynne Pharand, Director of Education, stated “Trustees play a key leadership role in ensuring that schools provide a high standard of education and that the programs and services school boards provide remain responsive to the communities they serve. Here at the KPDSB, we are incredibly thankful to our Board of Trustees for their passion for education and dedication to ensuring our students always come first.”
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board of Trustees:
- Cecile Marcino, Chair of the Board (Kenora/Sioux Narrows)
- Roger Griffiths, Vice-Chair of the Board (Machin)
- Eric Bortlis, Trustee to Represent the Interests of Indigenous Students
- Dave Cornish, Trustee (Kenora/Sioux Narrows)
- Marilyn Duncalfe, Trustee ( Red Lake)
- Barb Gauthier, Trustee (Dryden)
- Michelle Guitard, Trustee (Pickle Lake, Savant Lake and Upsala)
- Darrin Head, Trustee (Sioux Lookout)
- Jennifer Kitowski, Trustee (Kenora/Sioux Narrows)
- Gerald Kleist, Trustee (Ear Falls)
- Robert O’Donohue, Trustee (Ignace)
- Mason Gallagher, Student Trustee (Red Lake District High School)
- Mackenzie Shakakeesic, Indigenous Student Trustee (Sioux North High School in Sioux Lookout)
Fast Facts about Trustees
There are different kinds of trustees:
- Trustees elected every four years during municipal and school board elections, including more than 320 publicly elected trustees representing 31 public English school boards and three school authorities across Ontario.
- Indigenous Trustees appointed to the board by First Nations communities. More than half of Ontario’s English public English school boards have Indigenous Trustees. Trustee Eric Bortlis currently holds this important position at the KPSDB. The KPDSB also has an Indigenous Student Trustee position on the Board. Indigenous Student Trustee for the 2021-2022 school year is Mackenzie Shakakeesic from Sioux North High School in Sioux Lookout.
- Student Trustees elected by the student body of the board. The Ontario Student Trustees' Association (OSTA-AECO) represents more than two million students. Student Trustee for the 2021-2022 school year is Mason Gallagher from Red Lake District High School.
- Hospital board/school authority trustees are appointed by the Minister of Education for a term of four years, on the same term cycle as publicly elected trustees.
- Attend and participate in meetings of the board, including meetings of board committees
- Consult with parents, students and supporters of the board on the board’s multi-year plan
- Bring concerns of parents, students and supporters of the board to the attention of the board
- Uphold the implementation of any board resolution after it is passed by the board
- Entrust the day–to-day management of the board to its staff through the board’s director of education
- Maintain focus on student achievement and well-being
- Comply with the board’s code of conduct.
Trustee Role and Responsibilities
What are the Responsibilities of a School Board?
School boards – the elected board of trustees – are responsible for student achievement and well-being, for ensuring effective stewardship of the board’s resources and for delivering effective and appropriate education programs for their students.
The Education Act and its regulations set out the services that district school boards and school authorities must offer. The responsibilities of a school board include a key governance role with respect to:
- operating schools according to provincial legislation
- having a vision statement that reflects the board’s philosophy and local needs and priorities
- setting the board’s budget within the provincial grants and accompanying regulations
- implementing curriculum according to ministry curriculum policy
- developing and delivering other programs that reflect provincial policies and local priorities
- providing for the hiring of teachers and other staff required in their schools
- maintaining school buildings and property with regard to student safety and in accordance with provincial legislation
- monitoring the policies of the schools and the achievement of students and, through the director of education, holding the entire system accountable for meeting provincial and board standards.
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Farewell to Superintendent Jane Lower
We are wishing congratulations and farewell to Superintendent Jane Lower who has taken a position with Lakehead Public Schools! We wish Jane all the best in her future and know staff and communities will miss her.
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KPDSB Welcomes New Board of Trustees
November 16, 2022
On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, the KPDSB welcomed a new Board of Trustees. We wish to congratulate Trustee Roger Griffiths who is the new Chair of the Board (was previously vice-chair of the board) and Trustee Dave Cornish who is Vice-Chair of the Board. Both Trustee Griffiths and Trustee Cornish are in their third term of office as Trustees. We are also pleased to welcome Denise Baxter to the position of Individual on the Board to Represent the Interests of Indigenous Students.
KPDSB Board of Trustees as of November 15, 2022
- Roger Griffiths – Chair
- Dave Cornish - Vice-Chair
- Denise Baxter - Individual on the Board to Represent the Interests of Indigenous Students (new to the Board)
- Marilyn Duncalfe
- Robert Kitowski (new to the Board)
- Gerald Kleist
- Malcolm (Rory) McMillan (new to the Board)
- Dave Penney (returning to the Board)
- Steve Poling (new to the Board)
- Dakota McDonald - Student Trustee
- Gracie Tucker - Indigenous Student Trustee
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KPDSB appoints Shawnda Norlock as Superintendent of Student Achievement and Equity
Media Release - November 30, 2022
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Shawnda Norlock as Superintendent of Student Achievement and Equity.
Norlock started teaching with the KPDSB in 1999. She has held various system responsibilities, including technology-enabled learning special assignment teacher, principal and vice-principal at Red Lake District High School and most recently central administrator in secondary program and achievement. Norlock has led the student success and expanded and extended program portfolios system-wide. She holds a BSc and BEd from the University of Manitoba and an MEd in Educational and Digital Technology from Ontario Tech University.
Norlock stated, "I am honoured to serve and support the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board in a senior leadership role. I am proud to be part of this system, where we continue to put students first and provide innovative and equitable learning opportunities for all. It is essential that students identify their strengths, see what they can achieve and what is possible, know that they can shape their lives, and know that we believe in them. I look forward to continuing to learn and implement best practices and programs in our schools to advance student achievement and well-being and fostering creativity, innovation, and a culture of inclusion."
Christy Radbourne, Director of Education, added, "We are thrilled to add a skilled, experienced and lifelong KPDSB educator to our Senior Team. Shawnda is a welcome addition who will bring a strong connection to KPDSB communities and an unwavering commitment to students, equity, and student achievement."
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KPDSB and CUPE Local 1939 Reach Tentative Settlement
Media Release - June 9, 2023
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is pleased to advise that an agreement on local terms and conditions for the 2023 to 2026 Collective Agreement has been reached with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1939 (representing Caretaking and Trades/Maintenance Staff).
Details of the agreement remain confidential until ratification by the Local and the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.
Christy Radbourne, Director of Education, stated, “We are pleased to reach a positive outcome with our CUPE partners in education and look forward to continuing our productive relationship over the next four years.”
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